One of my good friends, the pastor of a church I attended for many years, is very much like Thomas. He can always be counted on to see, and to feel deeply, the dark side of things. Yet he is one of the few men I know who despite premonitions of doom is always ready to “also go” in any direction God leads. How I admire the pessimist who sees danger everywhere, yet loyally follows where Christ leads. If you’ve been dismissed as a pessimist—and the pessimist is often criticized in our churches—take